Reclosable carrier-dispensing container



B G. DYKES Aug. 15, 1967 RECLOSABLE CARRIER-DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed March 31, 1966 INVENTOQ 5PUCE GOVL ES ATTORNEYS I: G av l/L Wail v @ZL United fitates This invention relates to reclosable containers of the type used for the packaging and transporting of a plurality of articles, such as cans of beer or soft drinks, and for dispensing the articles therefrom. The invention relates to a container of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,868,431, and comprehends an improvement in the opening and reclosure portions of the container.

Can beverage and similar items are commonly packed in relatively large solid fibre or corrugated paperboard containers designed to hold 12 or 24 cans. These containers, in many cases, are conventional regular slotted containers with closure flaps overlapped and adhesively secured to each other, so that access to the container is impossible without partially destroying the container itself.

Where it is desired to use a container as both a carrier and dispensing means it is desirable to have a reclosable container with a portion which is removable to provide access to the carton and which may be reinserted to close the carton and prevent the accidental removal of the contents.

In the case of beer or soft drinks it is convenient to have a reclosable portion which will permit the container to be kept on the shelf of a refrigerator so that cans may be removed from the container without having to remove the container from the refrigerator.

It is also desirable to utilize containers of this type as a temporary refrigerating means on picnics or other outings. If a container with its contents have been maintained in the refrigreator for an appreciable time, as the paperboard walls of the container or insulating in character, when the container is removed from the refrigerator it will maintain the packaged articles at a lower temperature for a limited amount of time. Thus, if a few articles are removed from the container and the container can be reclosed, the container will keep the contents cooler for a longer period of time than if the con.- tainer has to be destroyed to provide access to its contents.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide, in a reclosable carrier-dispenser container, a reclosable member which provides easy access to the contents of the container.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a container of the type described, of a reclosable member formed integrally with one wall of the container which may be readily separated from the remainder of the container, so that it can be folded back to afford access to the contents of the container, and which has tucking portions associated therewith to permit the reclosure and sealingof the container.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination'of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is perspective view of a container embodying features of the invention, with the container shown in an unopened condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the container in an opened position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of part of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, with poratent G 3,335,940 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ice tions of the outer flap shown broken away to illustrate the inner construction;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1, with the container shown tipped over on its side with the outer closure flap shown in the opened position prior to gluing; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the outer surface of the blank used to form the container illustrated in the other views.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, cer.- tain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Turning now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen from an examination of FIGURE 1 that a container, indicated generally at C, adapted to hold a plurality of articles, such as the cans indicated generally at A shown in FIGURE 2, and which may be formed from a unitary blank B of foldable solid fibre or corrugated paperboard as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawing.

As best seen in FIGURE 1 the container includes a pair of top and bottom walls 10 and 12, respectively, a pair of side walls 14, and a pair of front and rear end Walls 16, an 18, respectively, which are hingedly interconnected to form a box-like enclosure. From an examination of the blank shown in FIGURE 5, it can be seen that the top, bottom, and rear end walls consist of a sin,- gle panel; whereas, the other walls are of multi-ply construction. 7

Front end wall 16 includes a pair of upper and lower panels and 20 and 22 which are hingedly attached to the front edges of top and bottom walls 10 and 12, respectively. It will be noted that the upper marginal portion of lower panel 22 is disposed to overlie the lower marginal portion of upper panel 20 but is free from adhesive connection thereto.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, each side wall 14 comprises a pair of rear and front inner closure panels 24 and 26 which are hingedly attached to the related side edges of rear end wall 18 and front end wall 16, respectively, and a pair of outer closure panels 28 which are hingedly attached to related side edges of top wall 10 and bottom wall 12, and which are disposed to overlie and be adhesively secured, as at G, to the outer faces of the inner closure panels 24 and 26.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, each side wall front inner panel 26 includes a pair of upper and lower panel sections 26a and 26b which are hingedly attached to front end wall upper and lower panels 20 and 22, respectively. Again referring to FIGURE 5, and particularly to the adhesive area indicated at G therein, it will be seen that the marginal edge portion of the outer surface of panel section 26a is adhesively secured to the marginal edge portion of the inner surface of panel section 26b where the panel sections are overlapped' to provide a manufacturers joint, indicated generally at 30, for the container. It will be understood that when a container of this type is shipped from the manufacturer it is in tubular form in collapsed condition so that it may be erected by the packager with the side wall closure flaps bein secured after the container has been filled.

Again referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seen that lower panel section 26b of side wall front inner closure panel 26 is divided, by a preferably curved, generally vertically extending line of perforation 32, into a retaining portion 34 and a tuck portion 36, on'the left and right, respectively, as'seen in FIGURE 3. The tuck portions of the two lower panel sections 26b on the opposite sides of the container are hinged to opposite vertical side edges of front end wall lower panel 22 so as to form there- 3 with a reclosable member, indicated generally at 40, and best illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In order to open the carton the upper edge of the front end wall lower panel 22 may be grasped and pulled forwardly and downwardly to break line of perforation 32 and separate the tuck portions from the retaining portions of the side wall inner closure front lower panel sections, and as reclosable member -40 is pulled away it provides opening 42 in the front end wall of the container to afford access to the interior of the container. It will be understood that only the retaining portion of the side wall inner closure front panel lower sections are adhesively secured to the outer closure panels so that the tuck portions are free to be removed from the container after they have been detached from the retaining portions.

In order to prevent or minimize the possibility of paper cuts to the person opening the carton, the upper edge of the front end wall lower panel 22 may be serrated as at 44. Additionally, the edge has a cut out finger receiving opening 56 to aid the person in opening the carton.

After the carton has been opened, the depending section 58 of the front inner wall panel 26a can be rotated about the score 59 across the panel between the V notches 60 at the end of the blank. This increases the effective size of the dispensing opening while yet provides a fully reclosable carton. The V notches also play an important part in the fabrication of this carton by relieving pressure build up of the overlapped panels 26 when the flaps 26a and 26b are folded into the carton some 45 past their normal horizontal carton closed position by the conventional automatic set up equipment. Without these notches, there is a tendency to fracture the weakened line 32 during the automatic set up of the carton.

In order to facilitate lifting and carrying of the container it may be provided with a handle or carrying memher. One example of this is shown in FIGURE 4 where a strap and tape type handle has been affixed to front end wall upper panel 20 and its related upper panel section 260! of the side wall.

Thus, it will be seen that there is provided in this container a reclosable member formed in such a way as to provide greater strength in the construction of the container, especially, after it has been opened, and which also provides a positive overlap between the reclosable member and the remaining portion of the front end wall of the container to seal off the carton and permit it to be used as a refrigerating means. When the reclosable member is reinserted into the carton the tuck tabs are received between the inner surfaces of the side wall outer closure panels and the outer surface of the upper section of the side wall front inner closure panel.

I claim:

1. A reclosable, carrier-dispensing container for holding a plurality of articles, such as cans or the like, formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom walls, front and rear end walls, and side walls hingedly interconnected to form an enclosed, box-like structure;

(b) said top, bottom, and rear end walls each consisting of a single panel;

(c) said front end wall including a pair of upper and lower panels hinged to front edges of said top and bottom walls, respectively, and said lower panel having an upper marginal portion overlapping, but free from adhesive connection to, a lower marginal portion of said upper panel;

(-d) each of said side walls including a pair of front and rear inner closure panels, hinged to related side edges of said front and rear end walls, and a pair of outer closure panels, hinged to related side edges of 70 said top and bottom walls, which overlie and are adhesively secured to said inner closure panels;

(e) each of said front inner closure panels including a pair of upper and lower sections hinged to said front end wall upper and lower panels, respectively;

(f) each of said lower panel sections being divided by a generally vertical perforated line into a rearward retaining portion, which is adhesively secured to related outer closure panels, and a detachable forward tuck portion which is free from adhesive connection to said related upper panel section and said related outer closure panels, and which is hinged to said front end wall lower panel to form therewith a reclosable member which may be opened to provide access to the interior of the container and which may be reclosed.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion of lower panel section is adhesively secured to said upper panel section to form a manufacturers joint for said container.

' 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said perforated line between the retaining and tuck portions of said side wall front inner closure panel lower section is curved to provide a generally convex rear edge on said tuck portion.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of said front end wall lower panel has a serrated edge to prevent accidental injury to one opening said container.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein, upon reclosure of said reclosable member, said tuck portions each received between an inner surface of a side wall upper outer closure panel and an outer surface of a side wall front inner closure panel upper section.

6. A container according to claim 1, and including handle means on one of said walls.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said handle means includes a strap and tape handle.

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein said handle means is on the upper panel of said front end wall.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of said front end wall lower panel has a finger receiving cut therein to facilitate opening of said container.

10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the juncture between the front inner closure side wall panel and the front end wall upper panel is notched from the end of the blank in line with and partially across the hinged connection between said panels.

11. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the front end wall upper panel is scored in a horizontal direction to provide a depending flap which underlies the front end wall lower panel, which flap can be rotated from the plane of the front end wall upper panel upon the opening of the container to increase the effective container opening for the removal of articles.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the juncture between each front inner closure side wall panel and the front end wall upper panel is notched from the end of the blank in line with and partially across the hinged connection between the panels, and wherein the flap score extends between the notches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,280 5/1940 Wilson 229--17 X 2,233,488 3/ 1941 Powell 229-7 2,868,431 1/ 1959 Painter 22951 3,209,982 10/1965 Laster et al 229-52 X 3,263,861 8/1966 Carr 229-17 X 3,300,115 l/ 1967 Schauer 229l7 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. T. MOORHE D, A sistant Examiner. 

1. A RECLOSABLE, CARRIER-DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES, SUCH AS CANS OR THE LIKE, FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK OF FOLDABLE PAPERBOARD, COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED PAIRS OF TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, FRONT AND REAR END WALLS, AND SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED TO FORM AN ENCLOSED, BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE; (B) SAID TOP, BOTTOM, AND REAR END WALLS EACH CONSISTING OF A SINGLE PANEL; (C) SAID FRONT END WALL INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPPER AND LOWER PANELS HINGED TO FRONT EDGES OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, AND SAID LOWER PANEL HAVING AN UPPER MARGINAL PORTION OVERLAPPING, BUT FREE FROM ADHESIVE CONNECTION TO, A LOWER MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID UPPER PANEL; (D) EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS INCLUDING A PAIR OF FRONT AND REAR INNER CLOSURE PANELS, HAINGED TO RELATED SIDE EDGES OF SAID FRONT AND REAR END WALLS, AND A PAIR OF OUTER CLOSURE PANELS, HINGED TO RELATED SIDE EDGES OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, WHICH OVERLIE AND ARE ADHESIVELY SECURED TO SAID INNER CLOSURE PANELS; (E) EACH OF SAID FRONT INNER CLOSURE PANELS INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS HINGED TO SAID FRONT END WALL UPPER AND LOWER PANELS, RESPECTIVELY; (F) EACH OF SAID LOWER PANEL SECTIONS BEING DIVIDED BY A GENERALLY VERTICAL PERFORATED LINE INTO A REARWARD RETAINING PORTION, WHICH IS ADHESIVELY SECURED TO RELATED OUTER CLOSURE PANELS, AND A DETACHABLE FORWARD TUCK PORTION WHICH IS FREE FROM ADHESIVE CONNECTION TO SAID RELATED UPPER PANEL SECTION AND SAID RELATED OUTER CLOSURE PANELS, AND WHICH IS HINGED TO SAID FRONT END WALL LOWER PANEL TO FORM THEREWITH A RECLOSABLE MEMBER WHICH MAY BE OPENED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND WHICH MAY BE RECLOSED. 